Life of a Fellow: Liz
Liz Allen graduated from the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in urban studies and sociology. As a Fellow at Hill-Freedman World Academy, she’s been exemplary in helping her team establish a fun and welcoming Plus Center. We love the unique flair she’s brought to 12 Plus, both in vibes and aesthetics, but more importantly, we’re moved by her undeniable dedication to and deep care for the students.
As I walked out of school draped in my two hanging plants, I wondered how long we would be gone. My hanging baskets and an inherited snake plant had brought another form of life to our center, and now, I was taking them home for an indefinite time. It could be two weeks, but it could be longer.
When we first arrived at the Hill-Freedman Plus Center, I was so excited to put my mark on the space. The room was lined with windows letting light shine into it, but it needed some love. I’ve had my two hanging baskets since my junior year of college, and since moving back home after graduation, they were sitting in my childhood bedroom receiving light from one small window. They looked sad. I was ecstatic to see all this light in the center. I brought them in the next day. Drooping and pale in color, I hung my plants near the inherited, dry snake plant that looked like it was on its last leg. With a little TLC, patience, and much needed sunlight the three plants perked up again. Their color returned, their leaves no longer shriveled, they were thriving.
Without noticing, this had been the approach taken with the students. TLC, patience, and sunlight. I always start with love and care. At the beginning of the year, we are all sussing each other out. ‘Who are these new people in my space? Where did they come from? What do they want?’ I started with love and care. Show the student you will love and care for them: follow through on your word, remember their favorite food, ask them how their board game night over the weekend went. Whenever you can take note of what is important to their life. Notice something no one else has yet.
Then follow with patience. Bring patience with you when a student does not respond to your numerous emails. Bring patience when they seem uninterested in the advice you are giving. Bring patience when they ask you questions you have answered 100 times. When you follow with patience and stay consistent at some point a student will respond to your email and show up to talk about college, trade school, job corps, their future. Eventually, they will ask for your advice and greatly appreciate your input. And at some point all the questions you've answered will sink in and they will be their own advocate. They will call admissions offices on their own. They will know how to resolve missing materials. All the patience you have shown in the year will result in a student who has grown up into the person they are about to be in the world.
“While it’s only been three days of quarantine, I take this time apart to remember how grateful I am to walk into a shared community everyday, build relationships with the greatest kids in the world, and act as a small part towards the rest of their lives.”
Finally, be the sunlight whenever things are seeming dark. When their life seems to be crumbling around them, try to be a positive force. When they’ve all been working on their Extended Essay for hours and hours, play their favorite music videos for hours after school. When they ask to take a breather in your center, offer them the aux cord to play their favorite music. When they’re on the last leg of the SAT, give them a hug, others might join in too. The positivity we bring to the students and schools spreads throughout and brings more people to our center.
Especially now, when things are uncertain and complicated I am reminded that the students can be the sunlight for you as well. I find solace in the fact that students have continued to reach out about their applications, suggest movies and tv shows to fill the days, some even going so far as to say they miss us and just wish we were all back in school. When we are forced to go without our normal routines: driving to work, walking into school, hugging students before class, making coffee for the team, the mundane aspects of our lives seem so special. While it’s only been three days of quarantine, I take this time apart to remember how grateful I am to walk into a shared community everyday, build relationships with the greatest kids in the world, and act as a small part towards the rest of their lives. I truly can not wait for the day I get to return to school, hanging baskets in tow, ready to continue the amazing work with 12+.
